Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 304: Ch.303 Acquiring the Future

Chapter 304: Ch.303 Acquiring the Future

Su Ming took the bracer in his hand. The gem was undeniably large and valuable, but the entire design of the bracer was a bit... flamboyant.

Who else but the Watchers would have such an aesthetic?

Wearing a golden accessory that stretched from the wrist to the elbow was garishly ostentatious.

Even someone with as little taste as Kang embedded this thing into his armor and concealed it with other layers of metal.

"Uh, this thing looks a bit damaged," Su Ming remarked as he turned it over and examined it.

Cable shook his head, stepping back a few paces to sit on a nearby desk. "I'm not sure. Do you know about the Watchers?"

"Yeah, those big-headed kids in blue robes." Su Ming took a seat beside him.

"Pretty much. This device is partially damaged, possibly from Kang's modifications or from Apocalypse crushing it. Right now, it can only transport you off Earth, but it can't manipulate time anymore."

The two began to share a smoke, taking a brief rest. With Apocalypse around, no one would be able to break into the Reich Chancellery.

"Off Earth, you say? To the moon?" Su Ming laughed. It seemed Cable had a knack for deadpan humor.

"I don't know, maybe it can send you to the edge of this universe, or even into another parallel world. After all, Kang is a ruler of many parallel universes."

Cable sighed, acknowledging that the Watchers' technology was beyond his understanding. Sometimes, he thought a sorcerer might have better luck deciphering it.

Hearing this, Su Ming grew contemplative. He remembered the vast cosmos he had traversed on his journey from the DC universe.

If one were to organize the cosmos from smallest to largest, it would go: singular universes, multiverses, megaverses, and the omniverse. Each of these categories was like a bubble containing smaller bubbles within.

A singular universe referred to a specific numbered Earth, viewed in isolation.

The multiverse encompassed all Marvel worlds centered around superheroes, like the MCU's Earth-199999, the comic book main world Earth-616, the Ultimate Universe Earth-1610, and so on.

The megaverse went even further, including not only superhero-themed Marvel worlds but also other properties like Men in Black.

The omniverse, meanwhile, comprised all these worlds, plus the DC universe and countless other worlds created by different companies.

It was even rumored that the real world, the one Su Ming lived in before, was part of the omniverse too.

Whether that was true or not was anyone's guess—there was no way to prove it.

Su Ming's journey from the DC universe to Marvel was a trek through the omniverse. And earlier, when Kang had trapped him in a temporal anomaly, breaking free had placed him back in the multiverse.

Now, if this bracer could transport Su Ming to the edge of the multiverse, he might have a shot at sneaking back into the DC universe, provided he had the mobility and enough energy.

Though the Green Lantern Corps had been repairing the Source Wall, was that really something their rings could handle? They were just wasting their efforts.

As long as Su Ming could find his way through the opaque expanse of the Bleed, he might find a route back into the DC universe.

Last time, he'd left without a word, which felt rather impolite, especially since Batman still owed him money.

The gem that Dr. Manhattan gave him was a reward from the universe itself. But the money Batman owed—that was the Justice League's debt, and they weren't the same.

The rest was straightforward. No matter which parallel world he landed in, all he had to do was find a speedster, reach the Speed Force dimension, and notify Barry in the main universe.

He'd just need to hitch a ride home.

The problem now was that Doctor Manhattan might not be so easy to deal with. Sneaking back in could mean facing a serious beating. Preparations would be necessary.

But when Su Ming last left, he saw the Omega Titans heading towards the main DC universe. Manhattan would likely be too occupied to bother with him.

"Su Ming, what are you thinking?" Cable noticed that Su Ming had been silent for a while, as if he was deep in thought.

"Uh, nothing. Just considering the Apocalypse situation." Su Ming spoke quietly, the tip of his cigarette glowing.

"Yeah, getting him to fight Kang worked out, but now Apocalypse wants to conquer Earth. That's an even bigger problem." Cable kept his voice low too.

Su Ming stroked his beard, recalling how well the last bit of beard wax had worked—he'd have to ask Monarch for more next time. "It's not too big of a problem, really. But to solve it, we'll need your help."

"My help?" Cable nearly choked. How could he possibly help? His powers might be alpha-level at best, but most of that energy was spent suppressing the techno-organic virus in his body. He couldn't match Apocalypse in a fight.

Su Ming couldn't exactly spell out that Cable's role was to call for backup. He patted Cable on the shoulder instead. "Tomorrow, have everyone else return to the future. It'll just be you, me, Wade, and Rogue."

"And then?"

"Then we'll take Apocalypse to a secluded spot. You'll see when we get there."

In the dim basement, the only light came from the lamp above the workbench. Blue Glove's broken bodies littered the floor, and a strange smell filled the air.

Su Ming gave Cable a mysterious look, but Cable had no idea what he meant.

"And how do we convince Apocalypse to go to such a place?"

"We'll flatter him, tell him he's defeated his greatest enemy and that he's invincible now."

Su Ming's voice echoed in the dark as he laid out his plan. He'd thought through every move, every possible scenario.

Based on their earlier interactions, Apocalypse's personality aligned closely with his expectations.

He knew Apocalypse's past and temperament, making him the most prepared player in this chaotic world where events had veered off course.

Now that Apocalypse had eliminated his nemesis, Kang, he likely felt that profound, solitary emptiness that comes with being 'invincible.'

Su Ming's next move would be to encourage him to go into the Egyptian desert and build a new capital there. With nothing else to do, Apocalypse would surely find the idea appealing.

Apocalypse's two greatest passions were giving people new hairstyles and building monuments.

"Is the plan to have Rogue absorb his powers?" Cable stroked his chin, his cybernetic eye blinking as if processing something.

Su Ming grinned and shook his head, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "No, Rogue's power will be used on you."

"You must be kidding..." Cable looked at him with a resigned expression. What did absorbing his own powers have to do with dealing with Apocalypse?

"I know that your telekinesis is busy fighting the virus in your body, and you don't use your energy blasts often. But remember, Mr. Sinister saw you as the ultimate weapon against Apocalypse."

Su Ming flicked ash from his cigarette, letting it fall onto a nearby Blue Glove body, landing right in its open mouth. He smirked grimly.

"Sigh, I know about my parents... and my stepmother... but what does that have to do with Apocalypse?"

"Because, even Sinister could see that apart from the people you mentioned, someone else has also considered you their child."

"You mean...?"